Yarn Over Simplified
A Yarn Over is so simple that it is often one of those things that we overcomplicate.
The abbreviation for Yarn Over is YO.
Yarn Over Between Two Knit Stitches:
Knit the first stitch. The yarn is in back. Bring the yarn to the front between the two needle points and knit the next stitch. Note that the yarn has formed a loop over the needle between the two stitches.
Yarn Over Between Two Purl Stitches:
Purl the first stitch. The yarn is in the front. Pass the yarn to the back over
the right needle, and then back to the front. Purl the next stitch.
Yarn Over Between a Knit Stitch and a Purl Stitch:
Knit the first stitch. The yarn is in back. Purl the next stitch without passing the yarn to the front. A loop will automatically form over the needle between the two stitches which is the YO.
Yarn Over Between a Purl Stitch and a Knit Stitch:
Purl the first stitch. The yarn is in front. Do not pass the yarn to the back. Insert the needle into the next stitch as to knit, and knit the stitch. The YO is formed by the yarn going over the working needle to knit the stitch.
Filed under: Techniques by cwulster
now that I got how to make the stitch…what do I do with it when I get to the other (purl) side?
Thank You! Yarn overs always seemed so complicated to me when they are really very simple! This was just what I needed
Mir,
I am not sure I understand the question. Are you asking, what do you do when you reach the YO on the next row? If so, then either knit or purl the loop, just as you would a stitch.
If this is not your question, please clarify.
Regards,
Carole
Thank you so much for this!! I understood the YO when between knit-knit or purl-purl, but you finally clarified for me how to do between knit-purl and purl-knit. None of my books shows this!
Jennifer
I just wanted to add something. As I was following your instructions for YO between a knit and a purl (k1, yo, p1), I found the yo stitch was oriented incorrectly, which made the next round of k sts (I’m working in the round) difficult at that point. I found another explanation for the yo between a knit and a purl that worked much better and oriented the stitch correctly (and saved me from unraveling for the umpteenth time):
“Knit the knit stitch, then wrap the yarn around the working needle from back to front, slipping it under, then take it again back to the wrong side of work, slipping it on the needle and bring it once more in front, purl the purl stitch.”
Essentially, you bring the yarn back under as if you are about to do a normal purl, then you wrap the yarn over the working (right) needle and back under - a complete wrap around the needle and in the correct position to start a purl.
HUGE sigh of relief!! I have been knitting for over 50 years, and finally, in attempteng my first lace-weight shawl, have to do YOU after purls, and between K and P…. Thank you Carol (your blog came up when I googled “yarn over”, and thank you Jennifer.
Anne in Ardmore, PA
I wonder if you can help me understand something? I’m reading a lace pattern and I’m confused. It says “yo, sl 2 knitwise, k1″ when I do this I end up with the yarn over going diagonally accros the two slipped stitches. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks for your help
How do you do a yarn over at the beginning of a knit or purl row? My pattern says to yo, k1. How do I do the yo at the start of the row, before the k1?
bjr
i have the same question as jackie and barb. my pattern starts with a yo — i made a swatch knitting the first stitch, then doing the yo, followed with the ssk and so on. it came out well, and i kept the right amount of stitches, but i want to know if there is a way to yarn over, without knitting into the first stitch.
ex. yo, ssk, k9 and so on.
thanks,
j.
When the YO is first…
On the knit side:
The working yarn is hanging from the left needle. Before inserting the right needle into the first stitch, bring the right needle from behind the working yarn toward you. Then insert the right needle into the first stitch and work as directed. The working yarn will have formed the YO before the first stitch.
I am using the term first stitch to refer to however you are directed to work the next step in your pattern. I could be the SSK to which Jami referred or it slip 2 or a k1.
I hope this helps.
Carole
Hi Jennifer
You sure explained Yarn Over in a purl really well…I think in English books its given as yarn around needle which is much simpler to understand
Please have someone post a video for this:
Yarn Over Between a Knit Stitch and a Purl Stitch:
Knit the first stitch. The yarn is in back. Purl the next stitch without passing the yarn to the front. A loop will automatically form over the needle between the two stitches which is the YO.
Yarn Over Between a Purl Stitch and a Knit Stitch:
Purl the first stitch. The yarn is in front. Do not pass the yarn to the back. Insert the needle into the next stitch as to knit, and knit the stitch. The YO is formed by the yarn going over the working needle to knit the stitch.
I’m confused. Thanks.
Leah angelleah1981@yahoo.com
I am new to knitting, my instructions say to yo, knit 1, yo. I have attempted this several times and am not sure if I am making it more difficult than it actually is. As I understand now, to yo, this includes to knit 1. So, would that complete what my instructions say to do??
what i wanted to find out is if the yo is 1st before a knit st.
i’m working a pattern that says
row:[yo,ssk,k3] to end
the cast on is 48 sts and if i do this how many sts should i have and how do i do the yo
thanks Carl
Carl,
The yo makes a new stitch and the ssk reduces one stitch. Therefore if you do a YO before each ssk, you will end up with the same number of stitches as the number with which you started.
YO before the first stitch: The working yarn is hanging from the first stitch on the left needle. Place the right needle behind the the working yarn that is hanging. Bring the right needle tip toward you, between the working yarn and the left needle. You will have a loop on the right needle with the working yarn hanging in front.
Take the working yarn under the right needle and work your ssk.
Carole
Thanks so much for this explanation! I have a quick question though, the pattern I’m using says k 1, *YO, k2tog, repeat from * to end. So when I do this, do I bring the yarn to the front, then knit a stitch then knit 2 together? Or should I be bringing the yarn in front and then immediately knitting 2 together? I’m a bit confused as to whether a yarn over includes a stich after the yarn is brought forward or if it is simply the yarn being moved to the front… (it’s a scarf pattern, so I don’t want to increase the total number of stitches - I cast on 17st, but when I got to the end of the first row I had 18st… ) Also, do I have to do anything different on the ‘wrong side’? My pattern says “this row forms pattern” so I’m guessing I should do the same both sides?
Hope someone can help!
Thanks!
Lana
Hi Lana,
You would insert the needle into the first two stitches with your yarn in the front. When you pass the yarn between the two needles to complete the stitch, you will have a YO just before the k2tog. It will happen automatically.
By the way, please read your directions again. There are probably plain rows between the pattern rows. I doubt that the pattern row is the only row in the pattern, but I may be wrong. Your wrong side rows may be knit or purled?
Thanks for commenting.
Carole
Hi, I have a similar question that Lana had. I am knitting a scarf and the pattern is K3, *P1, yo, k2tog, rep from* to end K3. The directions say it is a one-row lace pattern. It does not say the next row and every other rows should be knit or purl. I found this odd because when looking at other lace patterns all the patterns either had a knit row or a purl row in between the lace row. Are the directions wrong? When I was doing the next row, it was almost impossible to get the knitting needle into the yo stitch. It is driving me crazy. Hope you can be of help to me. I’m desperate!!!
Hi,
I just worked your pattern as you described. I think you may be off one stitch, somehow.
After the first row, the YO from the previous row is paired with a k2tog from the previous row which looks like a normal knit stitch.
You insert your needle in the second stitch on the left needle which is the stitch after the YO. Then continue by inserting the needle into the YO.
Or maybe the other problem is that you are making a twisted YO. Before you do the YO you have worked a purl stitch. Leave the yarn in front and then work the k2tog. The YO will happen automatically.
I am only sorry that I am not sitting there with you. I could be more helpful.
Carole
My pattern says; Row 32: * YO, sl 1, k tog the YO and sl st of previous row, repeat from * across, end with k 1.
I have done yarn overs before between a knit and a purl and between a purl and a knit, etc and slipped stitches, but had never encountered this type of direction. How do I do this!? I have 70 stitches on my needle right now. These are directions for baby booties. Please help.
Thank you very much
Dagmar,
I am assuming the first YO is what is causing yoiu the problem.
I am also assuming that your are on the knit side. The yarn is hanging from the back of your left needle waiting for you to work the first stitch which in this case is a YO.
Take the right needle point and place it behind the yarn that is hanging from the first stitch on the left needle. Bring the needlepoint up toward you. The yarn will now be over the right needle and hanging from the front of the right needle. Pick up the yarn as you would normally do from under the right needle and move the yarn to the back and hold it there. Slip the first stitch. You now have a YO and slipped stitch on the right needle.
From what I can tell from your directions the next stitch on the needle is a slipped stitch and a YO. You are holding the working yarn to the back. Knit the slipped stitch and YO together.
I hope this helps.
Carole
I tried it and it worked! Thanks so much!!!
Thank you. I knew this was much easier then I was making it.:)
Hi, Im making some lacefingerless gloves and my pattern says k1, yo, sl 1 wyib, k1, psso. my question is after I do the yo would I k1 or slip one right after the yo?
Dear Anna,
You will slip 1 right after the yarn over, then knit the next stitch, then pass the slipped stitch over the knit 1.
Hi, I’m in need of some help with this lace pattern: Row: 1 & 3 purl, Row: 2 k1, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to end, Row 4 *ssk, yo, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. I start with an odd # of stitches and on Row 2 I followed the advice given to Lana above. My problem shows up at the end of row 4. After a yo I have 2 stitches left. If I use both of these for a ssk, I lose a stitch, and it just doesn’t seem right to knit both. For such a simple sounding pattern, I am very confused!
Hi,
My first stitch is slip stitch, then yo, k3, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, k3, yo, k1…The slip stitch puts the yarn on the right needle. This is my first project and the YO has me at a standstill…lol.
Thanks,
Susan
Heather,
You should not have two sts remaining at the end of Row 4.
You have a repeat of 3 sts + 1. The + 1 st is at the beginning of row 2 and the end of row 4. But you should have a multiple of 3 sts plus that 1 stitch.
For example. if you are working on 7 sts
Row 1: Purl 7 sts
Row 2: k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog = 7 sts
Row 3: Purl 7 sts
Row 4: ssk, yo, ssk, yo, ssk,yo, k1 = & sts
I hope this helps.
Carole
Susan,
Slip the first stitch as if to purl. The stitch is now on the right and needle as you said. The working yarn is hanging from the back of the stitch. Bring the yarn to the front between the needle points, now knit the next stitch (the first of the the knit 3). Your yarn will be going over the top of the right needle creating the YO.
I hope this helps.
Carole
oh, thank you, thank, thank you!
I am confused. I am making a snowflake doile and the pattern states: row 5 YO, knit to end
row 6 YO, purl to end
Row 6? Would I YO and then knit the first stitch or do I wrap the yarn completely around the right needle and then purl the first stitch? Please help.
Hi Roxane,
For row six, the yarn is hanging from the left needle since you are at the beg of the row.
Insert the right needle purlwise into the first stitch. Take the working yarn over the right needle and then complete the purl stitch. When you complete the stitch, you will have a yarn over loop and a purl stitch on the right needle.
I hope this helps.
Carole
Does this technique work when the pattern is. K5,P1,K5? I’m a beginner!
I understand how to make the yarn over, but what about when you have to come back to it? I seem to just transfer the loop from one needle to the other when I try to knit it. Am I supposed to knit it through the back loop?
Katie,
When you come back to the YO, then either knit the loop or purl it as instructed by your pattern. You treat it the same way in which you would treat a stitch. You don’t want to knit through the back loop if that is going to twist the YO. The hole will be twisted and closed more than you want it to be.
Carole
What do I do if my pattern is like this k2, *yo, k2,p1,k2,yo* then k1, repeat from * to *, k2..Do I wrap the yarn twice in a row? Since I have to repeat the pattern I have to yo in a row, then I knit them in the next row. But it doesn’t look all the way right…just thought I would ask.
Hi, I’m new to lace patterns, and I’ve been trying for hours to understand the YO stitch. I somehow always end up with too little stitches on my needles after i finish the rows with the YO stitches, as in I try to carry out the pattern, but never have enough stitches left that are supposed to be there. Do you know of any common mistakes that might result in this?
Thanks, Rachel
Carole, thanks so much for this. I learned the Feather & Fan pattern with no problem, but would like to start something in Little Shell, and doing yarn overs between knit and purl, then purl and knit has been throwing me off. I can’t wait to get home and try this as per your instructions.
thanks! simplied! yay!
I am trying to knit a keyhole pattern. Cast on 31 stitches.
k3,yfwd,k2,sl1,k1,psso,k2tog,k2,yfwd,k2, repeat.*. After knitting
all stitches I now have (34) stitches on needle. How do I
purl the yo stitches, because I have that yo piece of yarn, do I
purl that tail or drop it?
Rwo 3:k2,yfwd,k2,sl1,k1,psso,k2tog,k2,yfwd,k1, rept from *I
have 4 extra stitches on my needle. What am I doing wrong, I
thinkI am in error with the purl stitches.
Please help me, I am doing this for a friend, and I am sick
over this.
Dear Gerri,
You did not include the first *, so I am not sure what the actual repeat is. However, you should not have 34 sts on the needle at the end of the row. You should still have 31 sts.
Note that there are 2 yarn overs in the 1st row referred to as yfwd. You have made 2 new stitches. However there are also 2 decreases, slip 1, k1, pass slipped stitch over knit st and a k2tog.
For each repeat you make 2 sts and you reduce 2 sts therefore the stitch count remains the same.
I hope this makes sense.
Carole
Carole: I should have told you about the repeats, however, I
just redid the pattern again and I have 34 stitches on my
needle, which is including the first K3.
ROW 1: K3,yo.k2,sl1,k1,psso,k2tog,k2,yo.k1. Rep from * to
last st., k1.
That is row 1, then the purl row K2, purl to last 2sts, k2.
My problem is the purl stitches: Do I purl the two stitches that I
created with the yo’s, that will increase the stitch count, won’t
it?
Thank you Carole for your quick response. Gerri
Carole, did you see my last long message with my phone #?
When the pattern states yfwd. k2, are they telling me to increase a total of (4) stitches or (3) stitches. I was looking
on some websites, and some say yfwd x 1 stitch and K the
second stitch to = 1 increase and one regular k stitch.
Could that be where I am improperly adding an extra stitch?
Looking forward to your answer.
Gerri B
Carole, thank you so much for all your help. My sample
looks so good that I am going to continue knitting and this
will be my scarf. After my scarf is finished, I will knit my
friends scarf. By then I will be able to knit it with my eyes
closed.
Thanks again.
Gerri B
Thanks for putting all this so clearly. Someone said it before me: this isn’t in any book I’ve seen so far.
Thank you! I have a number of yo’s between knits and purls on a shawl and they are not turning out right, now I know why! I was over complicating things!
Hi Carole
Great post, thanks. The instructions on how to start a row with a yarn over were very helpful. On the off chance that you are still monitoring this post… do you know how to do a yarn over as your last stitch? I’ve got a lace pattern where in the border I start and end each odd row with a yarn over, then those yarn overs are purled on the return. Normally I have no problem with knitting into a YO, but the one at the end of the row defeats me.
Thanks,
Nic
Carole - I’m with Nic on trying to understand how to do a YO at the end of a knit row … yes, it’s a lace pattern - the pattern then has you turn and purl the next row. Could it be that you actually turn it and do a purl YO before you begin the purl row?
Thanks so much,
prettyfleurs
Good Morning,
YO last stitch, turn purl the first stitch(YO)
To implement the directions above
If the last worked stitch is a knit stitch then take the yarn to the back of the right needle under the needle tip. Then, bring the yarn to the front over the needle (YO). The working yarn is hanging from the front or the needle. Bring the yarn to the front of the left needle tip and under the right needle tip. Now you can purl your Yarn Over.
If you do the YO as the first stitch of the next row rather than the last stitch, then you are not working the stitch on the next row.
I hope this helps.
Carole
Okay, I am doing a *K4 , YO, sl1, K2tog, psso YO* in the round and it is driving me crazy! It is a fishbone lace and does not look like the pattern at all…I think the trouble is that there is a slipped stich after the YO — do I slip as if to purl or what? I have tried every variation and nothing looks like the pattern…
Hello,
I am not sure but I think that the problem may be in with a misunderstanding of the psso.
Knit 4, YO (new stitch), sl 1(as if to purl), knit 2 together and then slip the slipped stitch over the k2tog. (2 stitch decrease), YO (second new stitch). You have now created 2 new stitches with the 2 YOs to replace the 2 stitch decrease by knitting 2 tog and passing one over.
Do you think the understanding of psso has been creating the problems.
A k2tog psso leans to the left.
I hope this helps.
Carole
I’m making a lace beanie. This is my first time knitting lace in the round. Th pattern goes
round 1-*yo, k1, yo, p1, p3tog, p1; repeat from*
rounds 2, 4 and 6-knit
round 3-*k3, yo, slip 1 as if to knit, k2tog, psso, yo; repeat from *
I’m confused when the yo is at the end of the round since it sort of becomes part of the next round. Do I yo at the end or end the round after psso?
I am making a lace scarf and am confused by the YO’s. I have to make 2 YO’s next to each other. When I come back I have to knit the 2 YO’s and am not sure how to do this. Help!!
Hello,
On the next row, knit the first YO as you normally would, Knit the second through the back loop.
Regards,
Carole
Thanks! I can’t wait to try it.
Just brilliant! Many thanks for sharing, I’ll use your YO’s simplified method trough a pattern I’m designing:-)
Thank you so much! I am attempting my first Intarsia project while working in the round, and I couldn’t figure out how to do a YO at the beginning of a purl row! Thanks again for sharing these great, and very clear instructions!
I think others have asked my question several times but still don’t understand the answer: after doing a yarnover my next line is all purls. When I come to that stitch, even though there is a piece of yarn on the needle, there is no loop - so there is really nothing to put the needle into. I have to come in from behind instead of in front to purl. (I knit continental style.)
Hi,
My pattern calls for in Row 1: k3 *sl1, k1, psso, wrap the yarn around the needle twice, k2tog* , then for Row 2 it says “Knit all stitches including the two wraps (knit into the front of the first wrap, slip the first wrap, knit into the front of the second wrap).”
First, they do mean YO when they say ‘wrap the yarn around the needle twice” right? And second, I have tried three times and cannot get through row 2…Any suggestions? The yarn just seems to fall off if I slip the first YO, and if I try to kind of wrap it before knitting into the second YO, it makes a weird cross over on the needles.. Thanks!
Christine,
In this case, they really mean wrap the yarn around the needle. You will have two new loops.
I am not sure if there is a typo in the second row. Normally when you knit the two wraps on the next row, you knit into the first wrap normally and then into the back of the second wrap. This works very well and is quite simple. Could this be the answer?
Carole
Thanks Carol -
I will give it a try, as there is no way that I can figure out to either knit into the front of the first wrap and slip it or actually knit it, and also knit the second wrap. I tried both. I will try knitting into the back tonight. I tried googling the pattern to see if there were corrections, but no luck…I think you are right, it must be a typo. Thanks for your help! One more thing (sorry to be a pain) - when wrapping the yarn around the needle - does it matter if you wrap from front to back or back to front and where should the yarn end up if you are knitting as opposed to purling? Thanks again
Christine
The yarn is at the back of the right needle. since the last stitch was a k1. Take the yarn over the top of the right needle toward the front then move the yarn between the needles to the back (one wrap), then repeat for two wraps. Then the yarn will be in the back for your next s1, k1
Carole
Christine
The yarn is at the back of the right needle. since the last stitch was a k1. Take the yarn over the top of the right needle toward the front then move the yarn between the needles to the back (one wrap), then repeat for two wraps. Then the yarn will be in the back for your next s1, k1
Carole
Thanks for all your help - I couldn’t find a description of this anywhere in any of my books - you are lifesaver.
Carole, I just discovered your posts here when I was trying to figure out what a yarn-over is and how to do it. All I can say is that you must have some sainthood in your make-up!!! Thank you for your kind patience in explaining the same thing over and over… and over… and over… lol. Now when I have finished my husband’s socks (that took much longer than the 2 weeks I thought it would), I’ll be able to start a project with yarn overs, because you’ve been so helpful. Thank you!
Carole, thank you so much. I’m trying a lace pattern for the first time, and when I ran into the YO from a purl stitch to a knit stitch..I was baffled. I couldn’t find the technique anywhere in my books. Your wonderful, clear instructions made me breathe a sigh of relief. It’s so simple!
Thanks again!
Carole,
Wow! You’ve got a treasure trove of explanations here! I’ve just read through all the posts, and saw much info that I’m sure I’ll have use for in the future, but right now I’m confused about a pattern I’m trying to follow.
I started knitting 2 months ago, and haven’t been able to find an explanation or video for this:
Row 2: K3, *yo, P the next st and the next yo together, K3; rep from * across.
Repeat Row 2 for pat until 53 1/2″ from beg.
So, clearly, I can’t get by without understanding how to do Row 2! I don’t understand the “P the next st and the next yo together” part.
Thanks so much, in advance, for your time!
Thank you, Jona
Try this…Row 2–knit 3, then stop and look at the stitches on your needle. The next stitch is a worked stitch and the stitch following it is a yarn over loop from row 1. You are being instructed to do a yarn over and then purl together the next stitch and the loop from the yarn over you made on the previous row. If you do not see a loop after the stitch then you forgot to do a yarn over on the previous row.
What I am trying to say, is to really look at the next two stitches on the right needle. You will then recognize how the yarn over loop looks different from a fully worked stitch.
The process is exactly the same as purl 2 together, but the first stitch is a fully worked stitch and the second is a yarn over loop.
I hope this helps.
Carole,
Thanks so much! I had no idea the instructions were referring to the row I’d already done…you cleared that right up!
Best,
Jona
Great information. I have been knitting for 50 yrs but not for the past few years and I drew a blank on yo for purl. I found a lot of good information on your website.
Thanks
I am trying to use this pattern to make a scarf and am totally confused with the YO and how it is affecting the pattern. I cast on 44 stitches. Row 1: Knit. Row: 2 Purl. Row 3: K2, *YO, P1, P3tog, P1 YO, K2; repeat from * to end. Row 3: Purl.
After row 3 should there be more stitches on the needles? On paper I calculated that the number should be the same as when cast on.
What am I doing wrong with the YO? Thanks for your help!
Dear Sharon,
You should have the same number of stitches on every row. In other words, you should always have 44 stitches.
Perhaps you are wrapping the yarn around the needle twice when you are doing the yarn over after the P1.
Be sure that you have only one loop for each YO.
I hope this helps.
Carole
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! I would have had to give up on this scarf pattern without your help. It’s always amazing to me how such a little info goes a long way and how complete strangers can change your life. Merry Christmas and God Bless.
I am still confused with the YO, when I am on the next row I am supposed to knit the entire row. But do I put the needle through the loop thats over the needle or under it? thanks
I have figured out the yarn over but I’m wondering how you would “fix” one that has been dropped/unravled? I did YO on the RS and I should purl it on the WS but I dropped the stitch and it became unraveled and now I have have 3 “loops” that are straight across the stitch and not twisted together at all. I’ve tried to twist, loop, wrap the three together to no avail. Any advice besides ripping it out?